The most at risk pubs in London have been revealed by a new website that calculates how proposed changes to rates could affect the hospitality industry.
New website ismypubfucked.com uses official data from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to identify which pubs will be most affected by the proposed increases to the business rates.
The “most fucked pub” in the capital is the Spread Eagle in Wandsworth, facing a £104,000 hike +622 per cent). The Beaten Docket in Cricklewood, North West London is second in London with an “absolutely fucked” rating – it could see rates increase by £138,000 or 431 per cent. It’s followed by the Dog and Bell in Deptford, which is in 40th place on the overall leaderboard, with a potential rise of £74,000 equating to a 426 per cent rise. Fourth is the Wickham Arms in Brockley at number 45 with a potential £37,250 increase (+425 per cent).
There could be some respite for these pubs, with the government expected to change the way business rates are calculated, resulting in smaller rises to bills. But Is My Pub Fucked points out that rates are “just one pressure” on the hospitality industry, with rising wages, higher National Insurance, increased alcohol duty, soaring energy costs and decreased customer spending all contributing to the catastrophe.
The website was designed by Ben Guerin, co-founder of digital-led creative agency Topham Guerin. He said he created the website as an avid fan of British pubs and wanted a way to work out which ones needed his support most.
“This tool exists to shine a light on what pubs are up against – and to help you find one near you that could use your support,” says Guerin.
The most “fucked” pub in the country is the Victoria Inn located in Gloucester, which faces a potential 673 per cent hike in rates, equivalent to a £25,000 increase. Next is the Berkeley Arms, also in Gloucester, with a £14,000 additional bill representing a 933 per cent rise, then The Den in Bristol, where £22,700 more would be a 473 per cent increase.
The biggest percentage increase would be The Bertie Arms in Stamford outside Peterborough, where a £43,750 rise in rates would be equivalent to a 1,944 per cent rise, according to ismypubfucked.com.
The biggest monetary increase would be Oxford’s The Longwall, which could see its rates rocket by £630,000, a 94 per cent increase. The Premier Inn and Beafeater Grill in Dartford could see a £546,000 hike.
Here is the full list of the 100 “most fucked” pubs in London (the data is from 2023, the latest published by the government, so some of these have already closed).
Spread EagleSW18 2PTBeaten DocketNW2 3ETDog And BellSE8 3JDWickham ArmsSE4 1TFSunE2 0ANThe Arsenal TavernN4 2JSLiquor InnE3 3QXPelton ArmsSE10 9PQThe John BairdN10 3HNBar RiaEC1V 9EYDaniel DefoeN16 0LAThe Nags HeadSE15 4TPThe Bank Of FriendshipN5 1EAThe SwanSW9 9AYThe Little AppleSE11 4XDCeili On The GreenNW2 4QYThe Fox & HoundsE7 9BBThe New Globe Grnd Flr FntE3 4QSThe Bell HouseNW1 6TLSpit And SawdustSE1 4ALThe Old ShipE14 7NWThe Prince AlbertSE18 6NEHand In HandSW2 4ENBaxter CourtE8 1HEThe CalfSW4 0DRThe GlobeE9 6NAFox And FirkinSE13 6JZThe ClarenceW14 9PPThe Latin QuarterE15 4BQNags HeadE1 1DUWatch HouseSE13 6JPRoyal GeorgeSE8 4QDDuke Of WellingtonE1 7NEStar Of The EastE14 7HGCamdens HeadE2 0EAThe Duke Of WellingtonE8 4EPThe HillSE23 3HNCrooked BilletSE20 7DTThe BeehiveE3 3LTThe GreyhoundSE11 4PPThe CastleE17 9LBCarpenters ArmsE2 6EGPrince Of PeckhamSE15 5JAAbbey ArmsSE2 9RHThe Whippet InnNW10 3JJThe Clifton ArmsSE25 6NJThe Pride Of TottenhamN17 9TBThe CastleE1 1LNThe Nobody InnN1 4PREagleSW11 6HGThe WheatsheafSW17 7PGWilton ArmsSW1X 8EDBoleyn TavernE6 1PWThe Lord StanleyE13 9AEThe TalbotSE4 1QGThe Army & NavyN16 8NNThe French HouseW1D 5BGThe Hanbury ArmsN1 7DUJolly Farmer AtSE13 6LEBar 512E8 4AEBell & HareN17 0AGThe Vault 1894 Limited Horace Jones Vault Tower BridgeSE1 2UPThe CoronetN7 6PACoach & HorsesE10 5NAWetherspoons At Metro Central HeightsSE1 6BNSurrey DockerSE16 2LWWishing WellE4 8HHThe Lord PalmerstonN15 4HQThe Prince GeorgeE8 3AGThe Railway TavernNW7 3SBRose & CrownSW4 0JGThe BritanniaSW8 2JHThe Castle TavernSE18 6JLThe Horse & GroomSW19 1DEThe SelkirkSW17 0ESThe Lost AngelSW11 4LSThe WindmillW3 6LGVolunteerSE18 1JQCrown & AnchorSE1 6TUGardeners ArmsSW18 5JLThree FalconsNW8 8NGThe Dartmouth ArmsE16 4STHeathcote ArmsE11 4EAThe VillageN10 3SHCarlton TavernNW6 5EUDurham ArmsE16 4SAThe Two BrewersN17 9TTWilliam MorrisW6 0QAHorse & GroomSW18 4DWThe Bricklayers ArmsSW15 1DDJj MoonsSW17 0RNThe Prince Of WalesSE11 4EAThe Crown & ShuttleE1 6PJThe BrunelSE16 4JNBst & Grd FlrsW1D 3BYThe Bricklayers ArmsN17 8ERThe Nags HeadE17 9LPHenry ReaderN8 8PTThe PepperpotE1 8JPBlue AnchorSE16 3TS